AJ Lewison (they/she)

Clinician, Behavioral Health Counseling Services - Pride Center

AJ has a BA in Communications from UC San Diego and received a master’s degree in Social Work at Cal State San Marcos. AJ is passionate about counseling, social justice, and intersectionality. Additional social work experience includes private group practice with an emphasis in LGBTQIA+ clientele. Historical roles include TAY clinician at Community Research Foundation and case management at both the Community Resource Center’s Domestic Violence Program, and the Postpartum Health Alliance. AJ is currently the BHCS liaison to the Palomar Pride Center.

Contact Information

Location: Email: alewison@palomar.edu Phone: (760) 744-1150 ext 2871

Dr. Ben Mudgett (he/him)

Faculty Pride Center Coordinator

I am a cisgender White queer and gay man, husband, father, professor, queer activist, and antiracist equity practitioner serving as a professor in the California community colleges. As a queer activist, I stand in solidarity with the queer community to uplift our voices and experiences in challenging the dominant discourse that places marginalized groups into subjectivities that are defined by dominant master narratives known as “truths.” I challenge these false discursive narratives to create new truths and new knowledge. I imagine new languages, symbols, and ways of being. I see our identities as a collective united front in solidarity to end discursive oppression.

My research interests include how LGBTQ students are influenced by college spaces and how those spaces help shape their multiple intersecting identities. I dedicated my dissertation to understanding and uplifting the lived experiences of queer Latino men in California community colleges and how colleges play a role in activating their salient identities. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, running, the ocean, food, the gym, and binge worthy television.

Contact Information

Location: Email: bmudgett@palomar.edu Phone: (760) 744-1150 ext. 2737

Gabi Blanco (she/her)

Pride Center Assistant

Gabi is a transgender scholar and student here at Palomar College. She has a passion of expressing herself through multiple forms of art and LGBTQ+ media, such as graphic design, literature, and street culture. Gabi is a 3^rd year student and is working on her Graphic Communications degree, and is planning on transferring to CSU Long Beach. Gabi has been a vital connection between faculty and students, and has helped bridge the gap to help us further understand what our students need and would like to see from the Pride Center. When she is not absolutely killing it on campus, you can find Gabi playing card games with friends or finding excellent coffee shops to recommend nearby.

Contact Information

Location: Email: Phone:

Kimi Rodriguez-McSwain (she, her, ella)

Academic Counselor - Pride Center

Kimi Rodriguez-McSwain graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in Communication and a master's degree in Multi-Cultural Counseling and Social Justice. Kimi has two associate degrees from San Diego City College, was a transfer student and product of the community colleges. She wants everyone to know that Palomar College and the Palomar College Pride Center "is the best place to be to begin your journey or to re-start your journey." Kimi is happy to help guide you in your path!

Contact Information

Location: Email: kmcswain@palomar.edu Phone: (760) 744-1150 ext. 5634

Lene Reynolds (they/them)

Pride Center Coordinator

Lene Reynolds (they/them) [pronounced like "Lean" in "Lean on Me"] is a passionate student affairs scholar and practitioner, with expertise in assessment, 2LGBTQIA+ peer mentoring, and student leadership development. Lene earned their M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Connecticut, and their B.A. in Sociology and LGBTQ Studies from UCLA. They were raised on lands belonging to the Gabrielino Tongva, Cahuilla, and Luiseño nations, now known as Riverside, CA.

Lene's student affairs journey began at UCLA, where they worked in the LGBTQ Campus Resource Center. Lene has continued to work in offices that focus on supporting 2LGBTQIA+ students and their allies at other institutions such as Trinity College, Santa Monica College, and — most recently — the UConn Rainbow Center. Lene has contributed research on promising practices in critical assessment in student affairs, as well as anti-carceral student affairs praxis, which they have shared at conferences across the country. They also serve as the Research and Scholarship Chair on the board of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Coalition for Fat Identities.

Outside of the field of education, Lene previously worked professionally in public health, coordinating Health Education initiatives for the L.A. County Department of Public Health's Division of HIV and STD Programs. In their personal life, Lene is passionate about LGBTQIA+ representation in media and has led discussion groups, written articles, and guested on podcasts and panels on the subject (i.e. they're a big ol' nerd!). They're also a cat parent, partner, and sports fan.